The Beast of Belgium, paedophile Marc Dutroux, faces life in prison after being convicted yesterday of a series of child rapes and murders in a case that has horrified the country for nearly a decade.

Even his own defence lawyer admitted the 47-year-old unemployed electrician was "the most detested man in Belgium"

The jury convicted Dutroux of kidnapping, imprisoning and raping six girls in 1995-96, leading to torture and deaths.

It also found him guilty of murdering An Marchal, 17, and Eefje Lambrecks, 19, as well as an alleged accomplice, Bernard Weinstein.

The jury in Arlon found Dutroux guilty of involvement in the kidnapping of two eight-year-olds - the first to disappear - but his ex-wife, Michelle Martin, was found to be responsible for their deaths.

She was convicted of imprisonment leading to death.

The last victims, Sabine Dardenne, then 12, and Laetitia Delhez, then 14 - were rescued from the basement prison two days after Dutroux's arrest in August 1996,.